The NEW TSL 3138 Reader: A Highly Versatile, High Performance UHF RFID RAIN Reader

12th January 2025

 

 

Featured 3138

We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand new TSL product – the 3138 Bluetooth® UHF RFID RAIN Reader, which is now available for order and ready to ship!

The New TSL 3138 RFID Reader

TSL’s very popular 2128/2128P series has been updated with new, performance-boosting internal hardware together with the market’s most advanced security features. The inclusion of a ‘Power Handle’ increases battery capacity, which combined with more efficient hardware provides longer operating times than ever before. The 3138 Reader is a highly versatile UHF RFID read/write solution leveraging on TSL’s extensive software environment, whilst providing a superior user experience thanks to:

  • faster data acquisition
  • better RFID performance and processing capabilities
  • the most secure UHF handheld reader on the market
  • longer operating times and more tags read in a single charge
  • new, patent-pending Command Scan feature allows instant configuration of the RFID reader by scanning special barcodes
  • an optional Hot Swap accessory allows continuous, 24/7 operation of the handheld reader.
  • and many other new and differentiating features

Next Level RFID Performance

3138 UHF RFID Reader Side View

  • Next generation Impinj E710 core
  • Tag read rate up to 1200 tags per second
  • Up to 9 m (29.5 ft) Read Range
  • Better rate of tag acquisition in high density tag environments
  • Reads and Writes to EPC Global Class 1 Gen 2 UHF RFID tags (ISO18000-63), also known as RAIN
  • Support newly added for Class 1 Gen 2 v2
  • Circularly Polarised antenna, carefully tuned for maximum read range in front of the reader (and minimal reading from behind!)

New Power Handle

31PH 01 Power Handle

Longer operating time

  • Over 2x longer operating time vs 2128P and Varta XL battery

Integrated Electronics for Flexible Charging

  • Charge 3138 Reader
  • Charge 3138 Reader plus host device (when using ePop-Loq® Mounts)
  • Charge Power Handles as a stand-alone unit – without requiring a cartridge battery charger!

Hot-swappable (option)

  • Swap your handle without losing connection to host device (interrupting your process).
  • Simply pull the trigger and continue your inventory

USB-C connector or pogo pins

  • Default option is USB-C for convenience and wide charger compatibility
  • Pogo pins option allows use with a docking cradle (with its own USB-C port)
  • Over 400MB/s data transfer

3138 connector options

Longer battery lifespan

  • Fewer charging cycles thanks to higher capacity and lower power consumption, which results in an extended battery lifespan

Lower cost of ownership

  • Reduce the cost of the solution as previously mandatory cradles becomes optional and the battery has a longer lifespan


Market’s Most Advanced Security – Powered by HID OMNIKEY SE

  • Cyber Security Acts and future regulation ready
  • Reader Genuine Marker / Anti-counterfeiting
  • Tag authentication
  • Secure data storage
  • Encrypted communication
  • Data acquisition authenticity and non-repudiation
  • Access Control / Personnel Authentication

New Bluetooth® Advances

  • BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) enabled – no need for MFI (Apple) app registration
  • Around a 2x speed boost for Bluetooth Classic in iOS
  • Bluetooth v4.2 compliant (v5.1 compatible)
  • Independent battery status and device information service
  • Supports SPP Profile, HID Profile, Apple iAP2, BLE

Enhanced Ergonomics

  • Repositioned gravity center reduces wrist fatigue for all-day use
  • Visual feedback from addressable and dimmable LEDs on each side of the antenna (3 per side)
  • Audio feedback from a volume configurable speaker, able to play PCM sounds (.wave format)
  • Haptic feedback using powerful, embedded vibration motors for various notifications and use cases

Convenient, Time-Saving Features

Desk 3138 cropped

NFC Pairing

Bluetooth® connection can be established simply by positioning a smartphone’s NFC sensor on top of the 3138 reader’s label

Asset tracking solution readiness

Built-in UHF tag for asset tracking and management solutions. 3138 exposes its ID to other reading systems and hides it in use

Batch data storage

Save up to 500 million tags to the included 32GB of embedded storage and later sync with PC for data retrieval/analysis


Command Scan

Command Scan Illustration 3138

  • Command Scan allows configuration of the reader by scanning special 2D barcodes
  • Make changes to the reader parameters without connecting to a PC
  • Speeds up workflow by allowing instant, on-the-fly changes
  • Users can generate their own 2D barcodes containing any combination of ASCII Protocol commands.
  • Developers could sent out Command Scan 2D Barcodes within emails or apps, allowing remote users to simply scan the on-screen barcode to configure their 3138 Reader
  • Command Scan can even write to the Reader’s Autorun file, so that all changes can be made persistent (remain after Reader reboot)

ePop-Loq® Connector

  • Allows direct USB data and charge connection to Hand-Held Terminals (HHT) using special ePop-Loq Mounts
  • New, Faster ePop-Loq mode (compared to 2128P) to accommodate the higher tag throughput demanded by the 3138

3138 charging


Backwards Compatible

TSL provide total business continuity by making all of their UHF RFID readers compatible with the same software environment. The 3138 Reader uses TSL’s latest ASCII 3 protocol for faster and easier application development, yet remains fully compatible with software written for older TSL readers.  This sophisticated ASCII protocol provides the developer a powerful set of commands and parameters that carry out multiple actions locally within the reader. This approach enables multiple tag operations to be executed using simple pre-configured commands which speeds up integration of the reader into applications.


More Information

You can find out more information on the 3138 Reader on the product page and datasheet. For ordering information, please contact enquiries@tsl.com.